taxes -- and the president promised in the campaign he wanted to do that -- it's to pay down on the deficit. there's no evidence of any of that. that's a major sticking point. the democrats are divided on tax rates, on the death tax, on taxes on small business and the republicans are holding firm that you actually have to deal with the number one problem in our nation which is the spending our debt. >> senator, the senate is reconvening this morning. how close are we actually to some kind of a deal here? >> i'm hoping that we get an arrangement and an agreement because the american people deserve certainty. what we ought to do is put a bill on the senate floor and let people offer amendments and vote on them. we shouldn't be here waiting for people to cut deals on back rooms. the american people ought to be able to watch the discussion and the debate and how people vote on various issues the death tax, tax rates, and how the money is going to be used because that's the big question. how are they going to use the money? >> senator, we heard president obama say in an interview that if congres